Canine cancer survivor may help children next

Clarice the silver Labrador retriever undergoes novel treatment at WSU that could advance immunotherapy options for difficult-to-treat tumors in dogs and humans.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Dayla Culp and her husband Jon's 6-year-old silver Labrador retriever, Clarice, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor near her left wrist. The Culps turned to Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where Clarice became part of a novel treatment plan that combined surgery, radiation, and a clinical trial in partnership with Seattle Children's Hospital. The approach not only appears to have left Clarice cancer-free, but could also help advance new immunotherapy options for difficult-to-treat tumors in both dogs and children.

Why it matters

Soft-tissue sarcomas are among the most common canine cancers, accounting for roughly 15% of all malignant tumors in dogs. As many as 95,000 dogs in the United States are diagnosed each year, and an estimated 20% to 30% of cases are fatal, largely because these tumors can grow unnoticed and often extend microscopically beyond what's visible, making them difficult to fully remove. The treatment approach used for Clarice could help improve outcomes for other pets and potentially lead to advancements in pediatric cancer care.

The details

The treatment involved injecting an immune-stimulating agent directly into Clarice's tumor to activate the body's T cells. One week after receiving the injection, Clarice underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Even with the challenging location of the tumor, the WSU surgeons were able to remove most of it, and the remainder was eliminated with radiation therapy. Clarice has since returned to her normal self at home.

  • Clarice's surgery took place just before Thanksgiving.
  • By early January, Clarice had completed a three-round course of radiation therapy.

The players

Dayla Culp

Clarice's owner, whose family has a history of cancer.

Jon Culp

Clarice's owner, Dayla's husband.

Clarice

A 6-year-old silver Labrador retriever who was diagnosed with a malignant tumor.

Dr. Janean Fidel

A WSU oncologist who oversaw Clarice's care.

Seattle Children's Hospital

A partner in the clinical trial that Clarice participated in.

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What they’re saying

“Clarice means so much to us. She's just such a great dog, and since she was a gift to me from my sister, when she got cancer, it was just that much more difficult.”

— Dayla Culp (dailyfly.com)

“So many people in our families have had cancer. If there was a chance this could help somebody else someday — especially a child — that mattered to us.”

— Dayla Culp (dailyfly.com)

“When she came back for her first radiation treatments, there was no palpable tumor — the surgery went as well as any of us could have hoped for.”

— Dr. Janean Fidel, WSU oncologist (dailyfly.com)

“In the end, we wanted to do everything we could for Clarice. But knowing her treatment might help someone else someday made the decision feel even more meaningful.”

— Jon Culp (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

Fidel is hopeful that Clarice has been cured, but she will still receive routine checkups to ensure the tumor doesn't return unnoticed.

The takeaway

The successful treatment of Clarice's cancer, which combined surgery, radiation, and an innovative immunotherapy approach, demonstrates the potential for advancements in veterinary and human cancer care through collaborative research efforts between institutions like WSU and Seattle Children's Hospital.